Escort website says men can pursue ‘war fantasies’ when having sex with Ukrainian refugees – Reuters

An anti-trafficking expert has warned that sex work in Ireland is already seeing increased demand from women and girls who have fled conflict in Ukraine amid a disturbing 600% increase in internet searches.

An escort site in Ireland encourages men to follow their “war-inspired fantasies” by having sex with Ukrainian refugees, according to an anti-trafficking expert.

Valiant Richey, a special representative for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), has warned that sex work in Ireland is already seeing greater demand for women and girls who have fled conflict in Ukraine. .

He explained that there had been an increase in internet searches “related to the purchase of sexual services from Ukrainian women”, reports the Belfast Telegraph.

And it is at the same time that vulnerable women and girls have had to flee their homes in Ukraine and move across Europe due to the Russian invasion.

Mr Richey, who spoke today (19 May) at a National Council of Women event, said some countries had seen a 600% increase in internet searches related to sex with women Ukrainians.

He said: “In other words, one of the first measurable reactions in Europe to the crisis was men’s attempts to identify and have sex with women and girls fleeing the conflict.

“The influx of vulnerable women and girls into Western Europe immediately increased men’s interest in exploiting them.”

He added that this significant increase in demand for men seeking sex with Ukrainian women is a “strong incentive” for human traffickers to target and exploit these women.

Continuing, Mr Richey said: “And indeed we are already seeing the market reacting. For example, one of Ireland’s largest escort sites offered men the opportunity to live out their “war-inspired fantasies” with Ukrainian women.

He said the same website increased the number of Ukrainian women offering services by 250%.

Mr Richey added that if arrangements are made informally via social media, for example to house refugees, this could also expose women and girls to exploitation.

The Red Cross has received so many offers of accommodation from people only in Ireland, but the delays mean some have still not been checked or approved.

The OSCE recommends that there be a formal registration system so that anyone offering rooms to refugees can be checked.

This means that massive public Facebook groups have sprung up where people are posting accommodation offers for refugees from Ukraine.

Mr Richey said it was important to “celebrate the huge response” of people offering their homes and help to help people fleeing Ukraine.

But he added: “The challenge, of course, is making sure people are safe.”

Read more

Read more